Kozan-ji Temple Choju Giga Sakazuki Flat Sake Cup with Stand

This unique Sakazuki flat sake cup with a stand displays the image of the famous illustrated scroll named "Choju Giga," which is a caricature picture scroll depicting anthropomorphic animals and their playfulness, dating from the mid-12th to mid-13th centuries. You can enjoy the company of playful rabbits, frogs, and a fox, entertaining your everyday drinking experience.

Featuring the distinctive “nami-yu” glaze, which is made from the ashes of the Kyoto forest, it has a natural base color of yellowish cream-white. The paintwork is done by individual Japanese-style painters, pursuing their own originality and depth beyond the expectations for a mere decoration. The design is from the picture scrolls is designated as a Japanese national treasure in Kozan-ji Temple in Kyoto. Please enjoy these humorous and playful works intricately depicted through Tosen Kiln’s painting techniques. 

The top of the cup is hand-brushed in gold, and within the golden ring, we see a frog holding a drum. Although the cup is very small and the surface is without paintings, the little frog suffices to add a sense of humor to the drinking experience for the sake. The stand for the cup humorously depicts a rabbit sideways, perhaps squashed by the cup on top. The little animals serve as accompaniments to lighten up the drink. 

The finishing touch to the sake cup is a lining of gold. Due to its delicate characteristics, gold can only be applied as an overglaze to truly display its beautiful color. 

Tosen Kiln

Tosen Kiln was founded in 1868 as a Kiyomizu ware wholesaler. In 1944, it established a production studio in Mukomachi, a suburb of Kyoto, marking the beginning of full-scale Kiyomizu ware production. Today, the kiln operates in Gojo, Kyoto, continuing its legacy of craftsmanship.

Dedicated to refining its techniques and artistic sensibilities, Tosen Kiln embraces Kyoto’s traditional craftsmanship while adapting it for the modern era. Drawing inspiration from Edo-period master potter Nonomura Ninsei, it preserves his precise lathing techniques and luminous painting styles, blending them with clean lines and warm tones to create pieces that resonate with contemporary aesthetics.

Kyo ware and Kiyomizu ware, collectively known as Kyo-yaki or Kiyomizu-yaki, are esteemed crafts from Kyoto. Unlike other pottery styles, they integrate various techniques from across Japan, resulting in unique, handmade pieces. Each item is crafted meticulously, from shaping on the pottery wheel to intricate painting, showcasing exceptional modeling skills and delicate designs.

With a rich history intertwined with traditional Japanese culture, Kyo ware and Kiyomizu ware are celebrated for their refined artistry and elegance. Known for their vibrant and detailed paintings, they were officially recognized as a traditional craft by the Japanese government in 1977. Today, these ceramics are prized for their high artistic quality, embodying both historical craftsmanship and aesthetic sophistication.